For those of you who still have not grabbed some modular stuff but want in on the sounds Izotope has released a Sound Library called Modular for Iris. Iris is on my list of interesting plug-ins to get when I have the chance. This library has 600 samples and 300 patches for $34 USD.
“From the vintage classic, the ARP 2600, to modern Cartesian sequencing, the Modular sound library stems from a wide range of both musical and chaotic sources. Start experimenting and you’ll find that any Modular patch could inspire your next track, from pulsing tones to lush effects to glitchy rhythmic syncopations to fat bass sounds.” – izotope.com
For more info: izotope.com/products/audio/iris
This entry was written by , posted on May 16, 2013 at 6:25 am, filed under modular, plug-ins, sounds, synthesizer and tagged Arp 2600, Iris, izotope, modular, plug-in, synthesizer. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
If you want to see a huge amount of modular synth patched together and sounding like a few hundred television sets falling down a flight of stairs start following Richard Devine. I’m not certain I would listen to his “music” while driving or even be able to pick out one composition and say this is one I love. However, as a movie soundtrack or in the elevator going up to the top of One World Trade center I think it’s perfect.
“Richard Devine is an Atlanta-based electronic musician and sound designer. Devine has designed sound patches for NI’s Absynth, Reaktor, Battery and Massive. He has also scored commercials for Nike, Touchstone Pictures and engineered and performed his own music worldwide.” – Wikipedia
For more info: richard-devine.com
This entry was written by , posted on April 29, 2013 at 4:58 am, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged modular, Richard Devine. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
Put this video on at about 6:14 in and it sounds like Front 242 during their Front by Front era. It reminds me of the basslines in Until Death or Welcome to Paradise. Sounds so wicked as he pitches the Make Noise DPO sequence using the Flame Tame Machine.
“The DPO is a voltage controlled oscillator designed for generating complex waveforms and implementing FM synthesis within the analog domain. Expanding on the classic arrangement of Primary and Modulator Oscillators, the DPO has both of the VCOs operable as complex signal sources. It is in essence a Dual Primary Oscillator.” – ctrl-mod.com
For more info: makenoisemusic.com and flame.fortschritt-musik.de
This entry was written by , posted on April 23, 2013 at 5:50 am, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged DPO, Eurorack, Flame Tame Machine, Front 242, Make Noise, modular, Rene. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
The next installment of Raul Pena’s Math’s Minute series shows how to use the Make Noise Maths as an Envelope Follower. This is a great way to add layers of sound to a song in a way that fits rhythmically.
“MATHS builds on the tradition set into motion in the 1960′s when Don Buchla adapted circuits found within analog computers for musical purposes. Buchla’s Algebraic Processor, Model 257 and 281 changed the way music synthesizers utilize control voltages. MATHS continues this great tradition of sculpting the control signals we use to sculpt our sound signals.” – makenoisemusic.com
For more info: makenoisemusic.com/maths
This entry was written by , posted on April 22, 2013 at 5:35 am, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged envelope follower, Eurorack, Make Noise, Maths, modular. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
I wanted to show off more of what the new Medic Modules Defibrillator Eurorack dual VCF/VCA sounds like. Be sure to check out my part one here. If you just want to jump to some instant awesome go to 1:04 in the video. When I increase the Q (resonance) the sound breaks apart in a wonderfully musical way. It really reminds of some of the sound on Front 242′s first album Geography. I needed two hands for this video and I remembered I had a GoPro sports camera so I used it’s head strap. Surely this is more interesting than footage of me jumping out of an airplane right? So what else is going on in this patch? It all starts with a Wiard Oscillator with a Tiptop Audio Z4000 ASDR. It is being sequenced by a Doepfer Dark Time and that line is being Quantized and beautifully modified by a custom key range I created on a Flame Tame Machine. The Tame Machine is also playing back a recorded sequence pattern. Everything is kept in tempo with Ableton using an Innerclock Sync-Gen II including a Tiptop Audio 808 Kick, Snare and 16th note hi-hat. There is a white noise crash from a Hexinverter vcNOIZ. At first it’s a solid blast then I break it apart using an LFO from a Synthesis Technology E355 Morphing Dual LFO. That LFO is also in sync with the Innerclock and is also providing CV to the Medic Modules Defibrillator at times. While it may seem like a long explaination once you understand how a modular works it’s very easy, fast and fun to put together a patch like this and play. I can see adding some more parts and vocals and turning this into a finished song.
“Based on the legendary Korg MS20 filter, and the Analogue Solutions SY02 module. Each circuit is independent. They can easily be linked in series using the Link switches, or used separately in parallel for individually processing or stereo filter effects.” – medicmodules.com
For more info: medicmodules.com
This entry was written by , posted on April 12, 2013 at 4:27 am, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged Analogue Solutions, Defibrillator, Eurorack, Medic Modules, modular. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
Last night I stopped by the always fun Control in Williamsburg to see a demo of Pamela’s Workout and their new SID chip prototype module. As you can see there was a nice number of highly interested people there. We heard Pamela’s doing some nice swing steps on a Tiptop Cowbell (my choice of course). We also heard the new upcoming SID module. It’s has multiple oscillators, a filter, noise, ring modulator and more with CV controls. My ears were happy when it did some 80s style pulse width modulation. I really enjoy these little get togethers. To see a few more photos visit the flickr set: click here
“Control is an independent synthesizer brick & mortar shop located in the South Williamsburg Neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. We specialize in Eurorack Modular, with a passion for vintage traditional and unusual eccentric electronic devices both analog and digital.” – ctrl-mod.com
For more info: ctrl-mod.com
This entry was written by , posted on April 11, 2013 at 5:29 am, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged ALM, ALM Busy Circuits, Brooklyn, Control, Eurorack, modular, synthesizer, Williamsburg. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
Later today I’m going to get over to Control in Williamsburg, Brooklyn to hear ALM Busy Circuits talk and demo. They make the nice eurorack clocking module Pamela’s Workout. See you there! Wednesday, April 10. 6-8PM 16 Lorimer St #1R Brooklyn, NY 11206
“Pamela’s workout’ is a compact programmable clock source for your eurorack modular synthesizer system. it provides 8 highly editable trigger outputs, all correlated to a direct and voltage controlled bpm based clock.”
For more info: ctrl-mod.com
This entry was written by , posted on April 10, 2013 at 6:39 am, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged Brooklyn. ALM, Eurorack, modular, Pamela's Workout, Williamsburg. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
Here’s a nice set of videos of you are seriously into Eurorack modular. Tony Rolando, Robert Lowe and Richard Devine discuss and use the wonderful MakeNoise modules in North Carolina. Cool dog by the way!
“On March 24, 2013, there was a modular synthesis workshop at MakeNoise Music, featuring an intro talk by designer Tony Rolando, discussion with artists Robert Lowe (Lichens) and Richard Devine, and performances of patches from the MakeNoise Shared System Series.” – Walker Farrell
For more info: makenoisemusic.com
via Matrixsynth
This entry was written by , posted on April 6, 2013 at 8:09 am, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged Eurorack, MakeNoise, modular. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
This month’s Future Music magazine has a video interview with musician Benge about his modulars. There’s also text interviews with Carl Craig, Clark, Jimmy Edgar, Zombie Nation and Simian Mobile Disco on their favorite modules.
“We’ve gone back a step and realized with everything being done inside the computer may have been a bit of a kind of a wrong direction.” – Benge
For more info: musicradar.com/top-djs-and-producers-modular-synths
This entry was written by , posted on February 26, 2013 at 6:07 am, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged Benge, Carl Craig, Future Music, modular, Zombie Nation. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
Last night I went to Control in Williamsburg to see Richard Nicol from Pittsburgh Modular. There was a decent turnout including a few girls, a dog, beer, whiskey and Vince Clarke. There was a Q&A and then people took turns on the new Pitsburgh Modular Cell systems. I asked a few questions. I have some space about the size of a 8″ monitor speaker on my desk and I wanted to know if Richard was planning on making a 3 tier high Cell [48] case. The answer is yes and he plans to go to 4 high or maybe even higher. I also asked if he was planning any drum modules but he thinks that’s been covered by Tiptop so he’s not going to try at this time. Later in a one on one discussion I learned his main focus is keeping prices low. There’s really nothing wrong with that as his modules do sound great. After playing with the Cell systems myself I made myself over to Vince Clarke and had a nice 20 minute conversation with him. He’s a nice guy and like really into synths so I could talk for hours with him. I admit driving home I put on Yaz and then I realized I’ve now met every person who was ever in Depeche Mode (epic!). Thanks to Daren and Jonas (the store owners) for a fun evening. To see a full set of photos: click here
“All of the Pittsburgh modules are handmade with the look of 1950?s science fiction laboratory equipment using bold components and unique layouts to promote interaction and experimentation.” – Pittsburgh Modular
For more info: pittsburghmodular.com, ctrl-mod.com and vinceclarkemusic.com
This entry was written by , posted on February 19, 2013 at 6:27 am, filed under modular, synthesizer and tagged Control, Eurorack, modular, Pittsburgh Modular, Vince Clarke. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
Recent Comments